More skilled workers providing appropriate care

Older people in Australia need a skilled, diverse and valued workforce to provide safe and high-quality care. The Australian Government is growing and supporting the aged care workforce to meet these needs and expectations.

What we’re doing

Our initiatives respond to the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety recommendations, including:

• helping aged care providers to recruit workers

• increasing training and professional development opportunities

• putting a national code of conduct and registration in place

• enabling scholarships and incentives for registered nurses.

The aged care workforce is fundamental to delivering care where and when it is needed.

How we’re growing the workforce

• Supporting a real pay increase for workers that reflects the true value of their work.

• More opportunities for training at TAFEs and universities.

• Priority visa processing for nurses and recruitment of personal care workers from our Pacific neighbours.

• A free, independent service for aged care providers to help them manage their workforce.

Increasing the number of home care workers

Most people want to stay in their homes for as long as possible.

We are helping aged care providers to recruit and train 13,000 new personal care workers to care for older people at home. Expanding career opportunities nationally will increase home care in all locations, including in regional, rural and remote communities.

Putting more nurses into aged care homes

More nurses in residential aged care homes means more clinical care for residents. From July 2023, we’ll have a registered nurse on site and on duty 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

From October 2024, we’ll make sure aged care providers deliver an average 215 minutes of care per day for residents, including 44 minutes with a registered nurse.

We will attract and retain aged care nurses and personal care workers by encouraging career pathways through education opportunities, a nurses’ bonus and supporting an increase in wages.

Boosting aged care worker skills

We are boosting the skills of aged care workers through training programs, scholarships, mentoring of new nurses and supporting clinical placements.

Workers will be better skilled in areas such as dementia and palliative care, managing wounds, preventing falls, infection prevention and control, and supporting mental health and wellbeing of older people.

Bringing skilled workers from overseas

Recruiting and retaining Australian workers is the first priority. However, migration can also help address workforce shortages.

Where suitable staff cannot be found through local recruitment, employer-sponsored visa programs allow aged care providers to access overseas workers.